President Bola Tinubu, in his inaugural Democracy Day address to the nation, hailed the recently-concluded 2023 general elections as a testament to Nigeria’s democratic progress.
According to News About Nigeria, Tinubu expressed his belief that the fiercely contested presidential election demonstrated the vitality and strength of democracy in the country, affirming his commitment to sustaining it during his administration.
Tinubu acknowledged that the legal challenges to his victory in the 2023 presidential poll were an inherent part of democracy, emphasizing that such contestations exemplify the beauty of the democratic process.
He asserted that democracy remains the best form of government created by humanity.
He said: “This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since 1999.
“That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed.
“But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections.
“Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph.
“Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man.”
Addressing the issue of the rule of law, the President made it clear that his administration would not tolerate conflicting and unlawful orders that undermine the country’s democratic principles.
He emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law as a foundation for a just and fair society.
